Sand trap for pumps



fiept. W, 1935. B. WILLIAMS SAND TRAP FOR PUMPS Original Filed Nov. 19, 1932 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNETED STAT SAND TRAP FOR PUMPS Burt Williams, Laredo, Tex. v ll? Application November 19, 1932, Serial No. 643,392 Renewed August 9, 1935 1 Claim.

The invention relates to an improvement in combination pump plunger and sand trap.

'into the pumping apparatus along with the flow ofwater or' oil. Thus it is desirable to separate the sand from the liquid being pumped so that the sand will not clog up the pump plunger and valves.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a combination sand trap and pump plunger, so that the sand will be trapped before it is discharged from the plunger and also provide a trap so that any settling sand in the pumped liquid will be trapped at a point above the packing cups on the pump plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand trap having a plurality of concentric barrels so that the sand will be trapped between such barrels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge tube which is closed against the sand settling in and about such tube from the pumped liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination plunger and sand trap so that the sand is trapped at a point above the packing cups and the valves carried by the plunger.

Other and various objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of certain parts shown in section of the combination plunger and sand trap.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a pump barrel with the sand trap and plunger of this invention disposed therein.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1, respectively.

It is usual in removing the liquid from wells to lower into the well bore a tubing or pump barrel such as 3 in Fig. 2. This barrel serves as a support for the standing valve 4, which may be positioned in any desired manner, but is preferably held by friction or a latching means, so that any liquid passing upwardly through the tubing will be trapped above this standing valve 4.

The pumping action is obtained by a reciprocation of the plunger, indicated generally at 5. This plunger may take various forms but those generally in use include a body portion 6, which i provided with a plurality of packing or sealing cups 1. These cups are usually positioned on the body ii and face in an upwardly direction so as to form a seal against the slippage of any liquid by the plunger. Any desired number of these cups 7 may be positioned on the body 6 and "-5 they are shown as being held inposition by the ring 8, which has formed thereon a cross bar'9, which may be used to rap'the upper end ll] of the standing valve to firmly fasten it in position.

The inside of the body 6 is hollow so that as 1 the plunger moves downwardly the liquid confined above the standing valve 4 in the chamber I2 is forced upwardly through the passage l3 to raise the traveling valve l4 from its seat l5. On the up stroke of the plunger the valve I4 will seat and create a suction in the chamber l2, so that another charge of liquid will be drawn upwardly through the standing valve 4. In combination with the plunger just described, the present invention involves an extension of the plunger 5, which is indicated generally at I5. This extension may involve a piece of pipe l6, which is connected on the upper end of the body 6, and, in turn, has mounted thereon a coupling ll. This coupling is shown as extending down into the pipe l6 and carrying a cross bar I8, which serves as a stop for the ball valve M to limit its upward movement. This prevents the valve from completely closing the passage I9 in the coupling ll.

Above the coupling [1 is a sleeve 2|] which forms a part of the sand trap which is indicated generally at 2|. This sleeve 20 has mounted on the top thereof a cage portion 22, which serves as a connecting member for the string of sucker rods 23. As is well understood, this string of rods 23 extends to the surface of the earth and is connected to a suitable mechanism to cause reciprocation of the plunger.

The liquid passing the traveling valve l4 enters the opening I!) in the coupling and thence flows into the passage 25 in a tube 26 which is disposed within the sleeve 20.

The tube 26 is provided with a plurality of outlets or discharge ports 28, which are at such an elevation with respect to the sleeve 20 that the liquid being discharged from these openings will impinge against the inside surface of the sleeve 20 in the sand trap chamber 29. The grains of sand being separated from the liquid by gravity are illustrated at 38 as settling down in the sand trap chamber 29.

One of the important features of the invention is the closing of the tube 26 by the cap 32. When the liquid flowing through the passages I9 eArsNr OFFICE is and 25 discharges from the ports 28 it is caused to change its direction of flow, because it dischargeshorizontally from the ports 28 and must then flow vertically out of the sleeve 20, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l. A considerable portion of the sand is dropped by the liquid as it changes its direction of flow but some of the finer particles of sand will be carried along with the liquid and moved upwardly inside of the tubing 3 above the cage 22. In view of the fact that the area of the tubing 3 is greater than the passage IS the rate of flow of the liquid will be considerably decreased and this will, in turn, allow the setting out of additional particles of sand. These particles of sand tend to settle in the tubing 3 and will pass down around the cage 22, and also around the tube 26, which is inside of the sleeve 20.

The cap 32 is shown as being somewhat tapered so that the sand will be deflected and caused to pass into the sand trap chamber 29. In this manner the sand is trapped so that it is not available to become clogged between the sleeve 20 and to gradually work down into the cups 1. It is to be understood that the sand trap chamber 29 formed by the sleeve 20 and the tube 26 may be made of any desired length, depending upon the conditions encountered in the well. If the well produces considerable sand a longer trap may be provided so that a greater accumulation of the sand may be had before the plunger need be raised to the surface and the sand removed.

It has been found that a combination trap and plunger constructed in accordance with the fore- 5 going description has proven exceptionally satisfactory and very long periods of pumping have been obtained without necessitating the removal of the plunger, because of wear on the cups caused by the sand, it being understood that if the sand can be prevented from entering the cups 1 the period of service is greatly extended.

What is claimed as new is:

A pump plunger including a body, packing cups thereon, a traveling valve on said body above said cups, a pipe connected to the upper end of said body, a coupling on the upper end of said pipe, and a sand trap carried by said coupling including a sleeve of the same diameter as the plunger and having a sucker rod connection thereon, and an upstanding tube also carried by said coupling and positioned concentrically in said sleeve, there being discharge openings at difierent elevations in said tube and said sleeve, said tube having a solid upper end at the elevation of the openings in said sleeve, whereby sand settling from the pumped liquid will enter in said trap.

BURT WILLIAMS. 

